Book writers’ advice: book writing sucks
It’s amazing how many book authors are volunteering advice and/or satire about how bad it was for them, or is likely to be for you, to write a book.
Ellis Weiner in the New Yorker lampoons the “marketing department” at publishing houses which are so notorious among writers for not existing per se.
Mark Hurst claims to divulge “secrets of book publishing I wish I had known,” sounding just a tad bitter imho. Publishers hate/don’t get originality, and so forth.
Seth Godin, in a slightly older post, gives “advice to authors” which amounts to “lower your expectations” and somehow ends, in a non sequitur, with: “You should write one.”
Well, I am writing one. Once it’s published, will I post, right here, some advice and/or satire about how bad it was to write a book?
I hope you do, but not necessarily focusing on the bad. I’ve always wondered how one goes about writing a book. Specifically, how does one keep everything organized and come up with enough things to say.
yes, that’s the thoughtful and more interesting way to write this sort of thing. And I will.
Do you agree that I should wait till the book is already out? I can address “how to keep everything organized” and “coming up with enough things to say” already, but what remains to be seen, of course, is whether I have done this well. Readers must judge that.
It might be better to wait for the book’s release so people can understand the process behind the final product. I’m looking forward to reading your book and also wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your blog.
Yes, please, do write more about the mechanics of writing a book and dealing with agents and editors and stuff. I’ve recently joined a writers group, and several of the members have already been published, some multiple times, and others are in the process. They too have frustrations and anxieties. And I reckon they’d be very interested in your observations. Cheers.
OK, will do, in due course.
Stay with the satiric look at the handwringing and grumbling of these poor published souls.
Dante must have forgotten to include publishers in his Circles…
These folks remind me of my old English department…
The weary souls!
On that note, I’m doing my Dante homework as ordered, and am currently in Circle 2 of Hell, so to speak. And descending fast.
Hmmmm….somewhere, in some line or some circle, is something for you. Of that, I am sure.